In vitro mutagenic and anti-mutagenic properties of green synthesised silver nanoparticles

Abstract

This study is aimed at determining the mutagenic and anti-mutagenic properties of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) biosynthesised from Streptomyces griseorubens AU2. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first study about the investigation of these properties for biogenic AgNPs bacterially synthesised. The mutagenic and anti-mutagenic potencies were determined by the Ames Salmonella/microsome mutagenicity test using Salmonella typhimurium TA98 and TA100 strains. After determining the cytotoxic dose of green synthesised AgNPs against S. typhimurium TA98 and TA100 strains, subcytotoxic doses (250, 100 and 50 mu g/plate) were used in the assays. Biogenic AgNPs at the tested concentrations exhibited no mutagenic effects in the mutagenicity test conducted with the test strains. Moderate anti-mutagenic effects were observed at high test concentrations. The concentration of 250 mu g/plate showed the strongest anti-mutagenic activity on S. typhimurium TA98. The results did not indicate any mutagenic effect against either of the strains used for screening the mutagenicity of the biogenic AgNPs as they were found to be genotoxically safe. It can be concluded that biogenic AgNPs showed great anti-mutagenic attributes, standing as a significant factor with respect to medical, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries.